This alone should have led to a little lightening up, especially among the folks in the media. But no. They recoiled in horror, then leapt to impeachment talk with the flash of a bra.

I was talking to the Dean of San Francisco's Grace Cathedral about this. Being of English origins he told me he was always amazed at how Americans were able to live their increasingly hedonistic lives while maintaining a Puritanical attitude where the behavior of others is concerned.

That amounts to nothing less than world-class hypocrisy. If the Almighty turns up in Washington this week the only thing that will save our Congress is the fact that they are out of town . . .

-- Paul ErdmanSex in Britain

Let's look at how the English handles these things. Britain's Foreign Minister, Robin Cook, planning a visit to Asia where he would meet with the leaders of half a dozen countries, announced that -- though married -- he intended to take along his girl friend. He expected her to be with him at state dinners and other ceremonial occasions.

However, at the last minute Prime Minister Tony Blair -- a family man, whose wife is a lawyer -- asked him to forgo the pleasure of her company.

The British press for the most part accepted this with humor, although there was some dissent in the Letters to the Editor columns. The dissent led to this note, which appeared in Thursday's London Times:

Sir, A number of your correspondents do not feel that Mr Robin Cook remains a suitable and credible Foreign Secretary. I, in turn, disagree with them. Mr Cook's behaviour hardly seems to me to fall into Father James Walsh's sanctimonious category of "wholesale abandonment of personal morality". Many of us married in youthful good faith and immaturity, to learn of our mistakes a generation later: these experiences have not prevented us from developing into responsible adults. We should not be disbarred from holding public office.

How many more are there in the House privately reneging on their marriage vows, carrying out a dishonourable deceit known only to themselves and their partners? If the Almighty, with one blow, were to disallow all such transgressors, would either House be able to raise a football team or a rowing eight? We would lose one party leader and be denied the presence of a future monarch.

If the Almighty turns up in Washington this week the only thing that will save our Congress is the fact that they are out of town in recess. If He then diverts His attention to the media, however, it will be a total wipeout.

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